Lion Love

Lion love is a painful process. The male's penis is barbed and its withdrawal hurts the female who may twist around and attack the dismounting male. Pain is the shock to the lioness' system that induces ovulation and permits fertilization. A lioness mates up to 100 times a day with an average interval of 17 minutes, each mating lasting for about 21 seconds. A little pain didn't seem to bother these two judging by the male's expression after mating. In about three and a half months a new litter of cubs will make their appearance in the Serengeti.